COMPETITION CONFIDENCE
A recent research project has shown that mindset training between two identical dressage tests can help to blitz negative feelings and boost bravado both in the ring and in the lead up to a competition. Julie Harding finds out more
MINDSET TRAINING
THE RESEARCH IN A NUTSHELL
■ Riders wanting to increase their confidence were recruited locally via social media for the study.
■ The first dressage competition took place at Derby College Equestrian.
■ Five online Zoom sessions for the group were held with NLP coach Tracey Cole, with researcher Emma Whay also in attendance.
■ The second competition was also held at Derby College, using the same British Dressage test and the same judge, Joanne Wilkinson.
■ Riders completed questionnaires before and after the first and second competitions, using the same questions to enable a comparison of the results.
HAVE YOU EVER wondered why professional riders look so calm and confident between the boards? Emma Whay, a rider and student at the University of Derby, certainly did. After completing work experience for British Dressage in events management, Emma discovered that she was particularly interested in observing competitors and how they coped with stress, and this ultimately led to a fascinating research project.
“I suffered from nerves at the start of my own dressage journey, and I wondered how the professionals manage to look so calm and confident between the boards,” Emma explains. “After discussing competition nerves with a variety of local riders and coaches it led me to decide that this would be the subject I would study for my degree dissertation.
“I also discovered that Dress Down Dressage competitions had become more popular locally, plus our friendly competition environment at Derby College Equestrian Centre is always so popular and welcoming to riders who want to have a go at competing in an encouraging, friendly environment. This led me to wonder if nervous riders can gain confidence through mindset coaching.”
Mindset makes a difference
Emma had always found that m
